Does it matter if Church of England parishes wither on the vine?
At the inaugural meeting of 'Save the Parish' this week at Great St Bartholomew's in Smithfield, London, the Rev'd Marcus Walker was animated and agitated. Time is short, he told…
Ecumenism
Would Worcester College Oxford apologise for hosting the Pope?
Worcester College Oxford is among the fairest of the University. Founded in 1714, some of its buildings date back to 1283, when there was a Benedictine abbey on the site. In 1542, the buildings then known as Gloucester College were…
‘Lord, how would you have me spend this time?’
The third contribution to His Grace’s emergency team ministry during the coronavirus pestilence comes from Nick Barrett, a former teacher of Classics, Philosophy and Sociology, now working in the legal…
Anglican Ambassador to Rome denies the Resurrection of Christ
The Anglican Centre in Rome is the Embassy of the Worldwide Anglican Communion to the Roman Catholic Church. Its Director is effectively the Archbishop of Canterbury's Ambassador to the Vatican;…
While bishops bicker over Brexit, there is one who shows a better way
Should there be a second referendum (aka a 'People's Vote') on Brexit, the Bishop of Oxford was asked. "My own view is that it would make things worse and it…
Lambeth Palace convenes Brexit colloquium – and crams it with Remainers (including one MP..)
This Friday there is to be a colloquium at Lambeth Palace entitled: 'After Brexit: European Unity and the Unity of the European Churches'. In the current political morass of 'Hard'…
Catholic Herald calls for disestablishment of the Church of England
The Catholic Herald has long held a certain antipathy toward the term 'Protestant', with occasional blurts of 'bigot' aimed at anyone so obtuse as to be duped by its theology…
Bishop Michael Curry brought with him the Spirit of Pentecost
The reaction to the Royal Wedding address/sermon delivered by Bishop Michael Curry has resulted in post-match analysis akin to that of 'Match of the Day'. Dull it wasn’t – everyone…
The Church of England should welcome Methodists into the fold of the historic episcopacy
This is a guest post by the Rev'd Marcus Walker, who was Deputy Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome until January 2018. He is to be Rector of the…
Reformation 500: Vatican postage stamp commemorates Luther and Melanchthon
The Vatican has issued a postage stamp to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. At the foot of the cross, Martin Luther holds the Bible (the fons et origo…
Reformation 500: we are all Protestants now
‘Reformation’ is an awkward word; so, of course, is ‘Protestant’. Both terms convey a sense of theological unity or ecclesial uniformity wrapped in a righteous evangelical zeal, when, in fact,…
Forget Brexit academics – how many of them are Conservatives?
Government Whip Chris Heaton-Harris has sent a letter to all university vice chancellors asking for the names of academics lecturing on European affairs, with particular reference to Brexit. He also…
Las Vegas shooting: Anglican Primates complain about having to pray together
As news of the appalling Las Vegas shooting reached the cloisters of Canterbury Cathedral, where gathered the eminent Primates of the Worldwide Anglican Communion (well, most of them) to continue…
Bishop Gavin Ashenden – if only the Church of England had so consecrated
It sounds good, doesn't it? Bishop Gavin Ashenden. Say it slower. Bish-op Gav-in Ash-en-den. The Rev'd Dr Gavin Ashenden has been consecrated bishop – The Rt Rev'd Dr Gavin Ashenden.…
We need to focus on religious literacy – before it’s too late
"For religion to be taken seriously there needs to be an improvement in religious literacy across the media," wrote the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby last year. The context was…
As Gavin Ashenden leaves the Church of England, the Ordinariate circles like a vulture
"I thought you'd already gone through the exit door a long time ago. Unless you actually want to stay and fight?" tweeted the Rt Rev'd Pete Broadbent, Bishop of Willesden,…
Archbishops call on Queen to repent of being Supreme Governor of the Church of England
In this 500th anniversary year of an obscure monk called Martin Luther banging his 95 Theses onto the door of Castle Church in Wittenburg, the event which history marks as…
Red Wednesday: Houses of Parliament turn to blood in honour of those who suffer for their faith
The Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral will be all be lit up red this evening to remember those who are persecuted or killed for their beliefs. The…
Brexit, pursued by a Blair
"This is the chase: I am gone for ever," proclaims the old shepherd Antigonus in Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale, immediately before that most famous stage direction: 'Exit, pursued by a…
With the gift of a crozier, Pope Francis recognises and affirms the episcopal jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Canterbury
You can read too much into a symbol, especially if it signifies a deep spiritual longing or portends some prophetic fulfilment. What to one person is just the rain, to…